Have some questions about designing aircraft...

[Virtual_Pilot]

Hey everyone,

I have never had anything to do with 3D modelling, but I want to start doing Gmax modeling for FSX and FS9, primarily FSX, as it lacks aircraft to download compared to FS9. I want to do high-quality smaller planes, from a Cessna 172 to about the size of a CRJ-200, with full animations and dynamic virtual cockpits, but I will need a lot of training till then. I will not spend more than a dollar on any software for Gmax or anything like that, unless I HAVE to have it.



How many hours does it usually take to make a plane between the size of a Cessna 172 and a Bombardier CRJ-200?

Where can I find the best tutorials or help on how to get me started with modeling?

You usually form a team to make the plane, like I would do the modeling, Bob would do the Flight Dynamics, Steve would do the panel, Joe does the textures, and if you want, you could have Fred make a custom soundset?


Actually, I would like to do textures for my planes too, but I will make a post about that somewhere alse.


Thanks,
Virtual_Pilot

[Greg Ebnit EApilot]

Check the faq of this forum for more info especialy The Idiots Guide to Gmax.
Download Gmax from Turbosquid.com.
Follow the link in the Faq to the FSX SDKs.
Here is the link to the FS2004 SDKs. Recomend the scenery tutorial as this has a good guide to texturing. All the SDKs are invaluable for aircraft and scenery creation.   http://www.scenery.org/tutorials_fs2k4_SDK.htm
For texture creation you will prolly want to get a payware program.
Get DXT bmp. From MW graphics for texture conversion.

As far as time my first aircraft The EA-S600X-2 took me 7 months to create and upload. Thats from knowing nothing about modeling and working almost constantly on it with a PC breakdown and a few scenery breaks and of course time to eat and sundry other activities. Just depends on how much time you have to devote and how quickly you can pick up the programs.

[Virtual_Pilot]

Thanks man, I'll look at that.

Is that plane in your signature available to download?'

[edit]The two on the right, that is.[/edit]

[Greg Ebnit EApilot]

Yes. Heres the link to the Dashes also Dash 8 default AI replacements on this page if you are interested. 8-)

http://www.simviation.com/members/fs2004props153.htm